| Speakers |
| Karen Adriaanse HMI Ofsted Karen has been a full-time inspector since 1999, having previously worked for the Adult Learning Inspectorate and the Training Standards Council. She is Ofsted’s National Adviser for Careers Guidance Employability, covering both education and learning and skills. She also inspects in colleges, local authorities, independent providers, prisons and probation trusts, having taught and managed in these contexts for 20 years. Her specialist areas are literacy, numeracy, ESOL and employability. She has been involved in developing inspection frameworks and methodology for learning and skills in all three inspectorates and in 2003, she was seconded to the South African government to advise on its post-16 vocational training and education curriculum. | |
| Sue Clarke Department for Education Sue Clarke is a member of Wolf Implementation Team in the Vocational Education Division at the Department for Education with responsibility for developing 16-19 Study Programmes. After working in sales for Cadbury Schweppes, Sue held a number of teaching and leadership roles in Further Education Colleges as well as a senior leadership role at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority where she was responsible for co-ordinating the development of Principal Learning qualifications and delivery of the 14-19 Diploma Programme. Before joining the Department as a Policy Advisor, Sue was a member of the senior management team responsible for policy and strategy across the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency. Sue has experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams on a range of projects and worked with a variety of external partners on strategic initiatives turning policy into practice. | |
| Mike Cox Association of Employment and Learning Providers After 13 years in retail purchasing and supply, Mike became an assessor for apprenticeships with TBG Learning in 1999. He soon moved onto various development roles with learndirect, RNID and then LSN where he headed up the bidding and development team, helping design support programmes and research in areas including Train to Gain, Citizenship, Diplomas, Key Skills, Functional Skills and Foundation Learning. He joined AELP in February 2013. Mike is married with 2 children and lives in rural Kent. | |
| Ashley McCaul Skills for Growth Ashley McCaul is currently Chief Executive of London work-based learning provider Skills for Growth/Landmark. Skills for Growth/Landmark are a significant provider of Apprenticeships and Foundation learning across nine boroughs of south and east London. Ashley has over 15 years experience working within post- 16 education in both the public and charitable sectors. Prior to taking on the CEO role at Skills for Growth/Landmark Ashley held a range of posts within Training and Enterprise Councils, Learning & Skills Council and the Learning and Skills Development Agency. Her various roles have seen her contributing to the development of government policy and leading on quality improvement initiatives across the sector. She designed and delivered a national Quality Improvement Network for Work Based Learning Providers in 9 National regions during her time with LSDA, and worked on Contract and Quality Management (including pre and post inspection support) in her role at the LSC. Ashley was elected by her peers to the role of vice-chair of the London Work-based Learning Alliance, Chair of the London-east provider network in 2008 and elected Chair of the AELP Foundation Learning Group in December 2011. In each of these roles Ashley acts as an advocate for work-based learning providers both regionally and nationally, seeking to ensure that learner access, experience and success, remain the focus of policy development and implementation in the post- 16 sector. Ashley’s passion for the development of young people has driven her career, working early on as a youth worker her key priorities have remained unchanged as she seeks to eradicate the barriers which prevent young people from accessing the labour market and achieving economic sustainability. | |
| David Sangster The Education Funding Agency David spent more than 8 years in arm’s length bodies, firstly six and a half years in the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and two years in the Young People’s Learning Agency. He had been Acting Head of Policy and Planning in LSC London East in 2006 when he transferred to national LSC and has worked across policy and strategy for all ages. He has worked on Foundation Learning policy for young people at a national level since November 2009. David joined the Department for Education as part of the Education Funding Agency in April 2012. David brings a wealth of delivery experience to his role, having previously worked in an FE College, an HE institution, a local authority worked based learning provider and with Connexions. Prior to working in the education and skills sector, David was an award winning financial journalist, author, publishing intermediary and a PR consultant. | |
